We made this delicious trifle at our recent INSPIRE Christmas cooking class

INSPIRED TRIFLE IDEAS:
This is a favourite recipe my friend’s Mum used to make for us. The original recipe used 2 packets of port wine jelly instead of using the cherry “juice” to make the jelly.
You may also like to add cherry liqueur to the jelly 🙂
There are so many different combos for a trifle, use any kind of fruit – fresh figs, pomegranate seeds, passionfruit, mango, berries, kiwi fruit, then make a jelly to go, with that fruit even a wine or sparkling wine jelly.
Match it with your style cake a plain sponge, or try chocolate, orange or pistachio.
Then flavour your custard to match or use a lemon or lime curd for something different.
Top with fresh whipped cream & something for a bit of crunch your favourite nuts, biscuits, toasted coconut, chocolate.

You can either add the cherries now & place into the fridge to set or place the cake in to soak up the cherry jelly & place the cherries on top & into the fridge to set. In a clean TM bowl whip your cream with the butterfly around 20 - 30 secs /speed 3.5-Time will vary depending on how fresh your cream is. Place the cream to one side & without needing to clean the bowl, place all the custard ingredients to the bowl. Cook for 15 mins 90 degrees speed 4 or until thick.

Pour the chocolate custard on top of the cherry jelly & cake. Place into the fridge. Once it has cooled completely spread the top of the custard with cream & sprinkle with almonds & grated dark chocolate & or toasted coconut flakes & fresh cherries. Can be made the day before, although the cream is best done on the day of serving.

I like to use the sponge cake from the Devil of a Cookbook replacing use 40g of cornflour with cocoa powder.

I was so excited to put on a special class for Christmas with my friends, we had 30 guests for a Christmas sit down meal & it was all made in the Thermomix – we demonstrated how most the dishes were made & gave all guests a take home recipe booklet & edible gift pack. I collected fresh herbs & foliage from my friends & my Mum’s garden to help decorate the tables.

We spent weeks testing recipes & working on the menu. So much thought & effort, planning every detail. On the day of the class the venue we had booked to hold the class had a mains pipe burst & they were without water!! Panic – what to do? We had so much food!! We didn’t want to disappoint our guests by having to cancel the class. Thankfully one of my customers Maree who was attending the class owns the cafe’ Venus & was able to save our bacon – almost quite literally! And we were still able to put on our event – phew!!

So we were down almost 1.5 hours of prep & decorating time & working in a smaller space. However as soon as guests started to arrive it was all smiles!!We served each guest a welcome Strawberry & Rosewater Mocktail.

We were in such a rush I didn’t get to take a photo of our plated trio of dips which included my absolute favourite Thermie Green Avocado Dip & Beetroot Hummus with Dukkah & Cream Cheese, Lemon & Herb Dip on cucumber rounds with smoked salmon. We served these with my Christmas Spinach & Cheese Grissini plus Chia & Quinoa Crisps.

Everyone said they loved the class & asked if we were available to cater for them on Christmas day! As guests left with bellies full & inspiration high -they took their free gift from Chef Ellie Emmett The Real Food for Kids Cookbook calendar & helped themselves to fresh bay leaves & herbs as well as rhubarb from my garden.

It has been wonderful hearing how people have been trying our recipes at home & enjoying them again. I feel so privileged to share my passion for Thermomix cooking & fresh produce, I can’t wait till our next inspiring cooking session!